My daily nylon bag tore on the side and stuff's leaking out of it. It's one of those basic ones, like the kind they sell at C&C or Cambuci. Is it worth taking it somewhere to get it fixed or should I just buy a new one?
An adhesive nylon patch with iron is really the most practical solution for a side tear. I had one of those everyday backpacks that ripped, and I tried taking it to a sewing shop, but then I realized it would cost almost as much as a new bag, so I bought an adhesive patch for about 2 or 3 euros and fixed it at home in half an hour - it held up strong and lasted quite a while until I switched to a different bag. If the tear is really small, it honestly doesn't make sense to go to a shop, but if it's a big tear that's going to compromise the whole structure, then it's better to just get a new bag outright.
I've been through that, and depending on how big the tear is, it usually isn't worth it to get these simpler bags repaired - the repair ends up costing around the same as buying a new one. If the tear is tiny, you can glue it with those nylon adhesives or even a patch, costs just a few bucks at the hardware store, but if it's a big one it's easier to just buy another bag, they're cheap anyway.
If the tear is small, it's worth trying a quick fix yourself with a self-adhesive nylon patch (the kind you glue on and iron) rather than taking it to a repair shop, because they really charge a price that's close to a new bag. Now, if the tear is big or it's in a high-stress spot (like on the handle), then it's better to just buy another one, because professional repair won't last long anyway.
You can also try a really simple repair with a needle and sturdy nylon thread, or even with fabric tape (that silver duct tape that really sticks) if the tear is small and on the side - a lot of the time it holds up pretty well and costs almost nothing. A bag like that is really made to be disposable, so unless it's one you really like, the cost-benefit of taking it to a repair shop just doesn't add up.
What's the size of the tear and is it waterproof or just plain nylon? Because if it's a small tear and you've got the patience, a self-adhesive nylon patch + an iron will fix it for just a few reais. Now, if the tear is big or if it ripped along a seam, then it really doesn't pay to take it to a repair shop - it costs so much you could buy two new bags for that price. The thing is, these simple bags are cheap, so we just end up throwing them away and buying another one anyway.
To be honest, those simple nylon bags are so cheap that formal repairs really don't make sense. A sewing shop charges at least 30-50 reais, and you can find a new bag for 40-60 reais anywhere. The math just doesn't work out.
But before you give up, try a workaround that actually works pretty well. If the tear is tiny (like around 5cm), grab an adhesive nylon patch (the kind you heat with an iron), which costs about 5-10 reais at C&C. Stick it on the inside to hide it better, run an iron over it on medium heat and you're done. I've done this with a grocery bag and it lasted months. If the tear is bigger or it's in a spot that takes a lot of pressure, it won't hold up well, and you're just throwing a few reais away.
The cheapest way really is just to buy a new bag. Those nylon ones don't last long anyway (usually 6 months to a year with daily use), so they're almost disposable. Keep the torn one to use at home for carrying messy stuff where it's no big deal if things leak a bit, like toys or trash.
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